Disclaimer: I do not own fruits basket I only own Rika!
Thank you to my reviewers! I hope you like this chapter! ^_^ can't wait to see reactions.
I sighed. Winter break was over and school was already in third term. Tohru needed to do some shopping so she, Yuki, Kyo and I all went. Of course Yuki and Kyo waited outside and I had volunteered to keep an eye on them
"Wipe that smug little smirk off your face before I come over there and do it for ya, yeah you'll be sorry then won't cha and I'll make ya say it." Kyo said.
"I'm sorry." Yuki said.
"Shut up!" Kyo shouted. "You're a real wise ass you know that?!"
"At least I'm not the noisy idiot who's causing a scene in front of the store." Yuki said calmly, his hands in his coat pockets. Kyo rolled up his sleeve.
"Oh you've done it now, girly boy, we're taken this outside." I face palmed
"We're already outside you stupid cat." Yuki said. Then Tohru came out of the store.
"Sorry I took so long." She said.
"Ah, fine everything you needed?" Yuki asked with a smile while Kyo was fuming.
"Uh.. uh-huh."
On the way home from the store Yuki and Kyo's attitudes weren't that different.
"Do ya gotta walk so close to me? I'm already pissed off enough as it is that I even have to be out here with you."
"So why did you come?" Yuki stopped walking and turned to Kyo. "You know you are starting to get on my nerves. Kyo put up his fists. Yuki reached into the shopping bag and pulled out some leeks.
"Oh yeah so why don't you try to do something about it girly boy?!" Suddenly Yuki put the leeks into Kyo's mouth. "Leeks." He said falling over.
"Oh Kyo!"
"There that should keep him quiet for a little while." Yuki said before coughing. I turned to him.
"Are you alright?" I asked. He nodded.
"I'm fine."
"Hey!" Shigure called. "I'm out of the tub, who's in next? Yuki?" He asked opening the door with a towel on his head. Yuki sighed.
"I think skip it today."
"Ughh! How can you stay to be so dirty?!" Shigure said.
"Just once I'd like to knock him through the roof." Yuki mumbled.
"What's wrong?" Tohru asked. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Well.. no. I think I'm coming down with a cold." I moved closer and put my hand on his forehead. He blinked at me.
"You're getting a fever too."
"Well it's best to treat these things early." Shigure said. "Take some medicine, get some rest, all that. I think I have just the thing here.
"Maybe you should stay home from school tomorrow." Tohru suggested.
"No, I'm alright." Yuki said. "It won't have to come to that."
"Are you sure? We are supposed to do our endurance run." Tohru said.
"Oh so they still have those." Shigure said. "Almost seems cruel making you kids run around in the cold." Suddenly Kyo opened the door.
"An endurance run, huh?"
"Yes." Tohru said. "You mean you didn't know?"
"The endurance run; a set distance, a certain time to beat. In other words, it's a race!" He pointed to Yuki. "Alright rat boy tomorrow we're gunna find out who's the fastest."
"Um Kyo." Tohru said. "Yuki's starting to come down with a cold.
"So you better give him something to eat and put him to bed. He's not getting outta this one."
"Here take one of these." Shigure said holding a box out to Yuki. "And all joking aside, remember if you strain your body too much you'll transform. Don't overdo it."
"I know." Yuki said.
"Tomorrow the race is on! Oh yeah! Ooo! Woo!"
"Kyo would you be quiet?" I asked rolling my eyes at him. He turned to me.
"You'll see, tomorrow I'll beat that rat!" I sighed.
"Save your energy for the run then, huh?"
The next day everyone was outside, the girls wearing red sweaters and blue shorts and the guys wearing green sweaters and blue shorts. Tohru and I walked over to Yuki who was sitting on the ground by a tree.
"Hey Yuki, how are you feeling today?"
"Don't worry." He said. "I think I'll be able to manage." He got up. "Besides," We looked over to see Kyo glaring. "If I don't do this then that stupid cat will never let me hear the end of it." He started looking around. "You know, I don't think I've seen Miss Uotani here today."
"Right, she thought this might be a good day to skip. Hana's here though." A whistle was blown.
"Alright girls you're up first. Everybody make your way to the starting line at the gate."
"Well gotta run." Tohru said.
"Good luck." Yuki said.
"Don't push yourself, okay?" I said. He nodded with a smile. I smiled back walked with Tohru to stand next to Saki.
"Hey Hana, let's do our best to day, for Uo since she's not here." Tohru said.
"Alright." Saki said. "I've never been really good at running but since you asked I will try my hardest."
"Okay on your marks, get set." The coach shot the pop gun in the air and all the girls began running. Within a few seconds Saki fell over.
"Oh! Hana, what's the matter?! Are you okay?"
"Tohru, I'm sorry. I can't run any further. I've done my best but now I've reached the edge of my limits. Run on without me and don't worry I'll be right behind you the whole time, only walking."
"Hana."
"Walk, crawl, I don't care just start Miss Hanajima." The coach said.
"Come on." I said and the two of us started running to catch up with the rest of the girls.
We were running sorta in the middle with a few people passing every minute or so when we got to the bridge. Tohru suddenly saw something and began to go down the hill.
"Torhu?" I asked out of breath. I followed her.
"Sir what's wrong." She said and stopped when he turned to look at her. He looked to be about Tohru's age maybe younger maybe older but he had white hair with black roots. He had a bunch of necklaces on and a long white coat with fuzz around the hood and black pants. "I'm sorry I just thought well, your hair so white I thought you were an old man that had fallen down or something. I mean not that you look like an old man-"
"Have you ever heard of a place called Sohma house?" He asked. Tohru and I sat down. Well she sat down I laid down.
"The Sohma house?" Tohru asked. "So then.. by any chance are you a Sohma, maybe?" She asked.
"That's right. So you know it then?"
"Oh yes yes, um I'm so please to meet you I'm Tohru-!" She said bowing. She trailed off when he looked over to the street. He got up making the two of us get up to see what he was doing. "What is it?"
"He's coming." He said before going to the other side of the street with rope and tying it to the car rail before going back to the hill.
"Um.. what are you doing?" Tohru asked.
"mmm." Tohru and I looked over to see Kyo and Yuki running, Kyo just passed Yuki when the white haired boy pulled the rope tight making Kyo trip and fall. "Got him." The boy said.
"Kyo are you hurt?!" Tohru said running over to him. Yuki stopped running. "Kyo?"
"Miss Honda?" Yuki said out of breath.
"What the hell are you doin?! Dammit! I was winning and everything!"
"If I hadn't of tripped you, you wouldn't have stopped now would you?" The boy asked.
"Haru?" Kyo asked.
"So now it's Haru." Yuki said. "They just keep showing up, don't they?" He said. "Shouldn't you be at school?" Yuki asked Haru.
"Yeah.. w-well actually I left on Sunday with the intention of coming here but I swept away into the heart of a dark urban wilderness that took me three days to find my way out." Yuki sighed.
"Why don't you just say you got lost?"
"His sense of direction's as crappy as ever." Kyo said.
"But if you're gunna get lost that's an impressive way to do it." Tohru said.
"Oh yeah well it means he hasn't had a bath in three days, gross!"
"Um, hey, do you think we should move somewhere off the road?" Tohru asked seeing the other runners.
"Hmm, that might be wise." Yuki agreed. "Oh, this is Hatsuharu." Yuki said. "He's still in his third year of middle school, one year behind us. Haru, this is Miss Tohru Honda." Yuki said before turning to me. "and this is Rika. She's a year older than us."
"Well then Miss Tohru Honda, Rika, it is a pleasure to meet you." Haru said bowing.
"Oh no the pleasure's all mine really." Tohru said bowing a few times.
We all moved off the road and went below the bridge.
"So what did you come here for anyway?" Kyo asked.
"To fight." Haru said. "I was planning to challenge you at the New Year's banquet but you decided to skip." So that means Haru is part of the Zodiac too if he's allowed to go to the banquet. "So I've come to you." If I seriously had to guess I would say the Ox but only because of the fact he has black and white everything. "Now let's do it." Haru said grabbing Kyo's shirt.
"Hold on a minute, I'm right in the middle of something here in case you hadn't noticed!"
"I've already wasted three days looking for you."
"That's your own damn fault! You're the one who got lost!"
"Forget I said it let's go
"You forget it why don't we get home then I'll fight you as much as you want."
"No way!"
"This could get ugly." Yuki said. "Hey Kyo, maybe you should just go ahead and do what he says before-
"No! I said no and I mean no! Now get outta here I'm busy." Suddenly Haru head-butted the back of Kyo's head. Kyo crouched down and held his head.
"You make me sick." Haru said. "You and your pathetic girly whining."
"Too late." Yuki said.
"Huh! You're not a man, you're a little kiddy cat who's too scared to fight! Know what? You could go ta hell!" He started laughing flipping Kyo off, who was still on the ground.
"You.. little PUNK!" Kyo kicked Haru in the jaw. "What's your problem?! What did I ever do ta you?!"
"That idiot. He just had to go and bring out Black Haru." Yuki said.
"B-B-B-Black?" Tohru asked, shocked at Haru's behavior change.
"Haru's pretty easy to get along with but once he's snapped he's uncontrollable. That's our nickname for him when he's like this. Black Haru."
"Ah.. so what you're saying is he's got the same sorta temper as Kagura?" Tohru asked.
"Not at all." Yuki said as Haru was suddenly in front of him holding Yuki's chin. "I'm saying he's 1000 times worse."
"Yuki." Haru said. "Are you comfortable, enjoying the show? Hope so cause I'm coming for you next."
"Oh is that a fact?" Yuki asked.
"Get up Kyo!" Haru shouted turning around to face Kyo.
"I've been up! Where the hell were you?!"
"I'm right here, come one, fight!"
"You know." Yuki said. "This could go on for hours, you don't have to stay" He said to us.
"Damn it! Get outta here!"
" "Go away!" "Leave me alone!" When did you become such a little pansy, huh?!"
"Ya know when you go black you're a real bastard!"
"Oh yeah?! Just for that when I'm done with you I'm gunna take one of your little girlfriends."
"What the- You're gunna what?!"
"Oh you know I'm gunna do this and a little of that and I'm defiantly gunna do that." He said.
"You're sick! And if it's a fight you want you got it just bring it on!"
"That's more like it, coward, it's about time you came around."
"Miss Honda, Rika, this really will take a while you should head back if you want." Yuki said before coughing.
"But shouldn't we at least try to stop them?" Tohru asked. Haru dodged a punch from Kyo and backed up close to me. I backed up in order to get out of the way and tripped backwards. I let out the slightest noise and suddenly Haru pulled me into him and twisted us so he landed on the ground with me on top. I sat up and stared down at him. He looked up at me confused. Yuki and Kyo also looked shocked.
"I'd ask if you were really a boy but I think these" He suddenly reached up and grabbed my chest making me gasp. "disprove that theory."
"Hey!" I let out a yelp and moved back, pushing his hands away a deep blush forming on my face. He grunted slightly.
"I don't mind you sitting there, baby." He said looking up with a big smirk. I blushed more and got off of him. He sat up still smirking. "Once I'm done fightin Kyo, why don't the two of us get to know each other?" He asked with a smirk, cupping my chin.
"Haru you sick bastard get over here!" Kyo shouted. Haru chuckled before getting up and going back over to Kyo. The two began fighting again.
"Are you alright Rika?" Yuki asked. I got up, a deep blush still on my face.
"I-I'm fine."
"I'm sorry about him."
"Come on what's a matta?! Hit me!"
"What fight are you watchin you haven't landed a single punch yet! You hit me!" Kyo yelled.
"You got it!"
"Um excuse me." Tohru tried to say.
"Let's leave them alone." Yuki said. "It's best to let them fight it out. It's what they want. Besides, I don't know about you but I'd rather not be the one who stands between them. It's a little risky." Haru suddenly threw off his coat.
"You pansy! What kind of a girly punch is that?! I didn't even feel it! Idiot. You're afraid to hit, aren't you jackass." Suddenly Kyo hit Haru to the ground.
"Don't get cocky you brat! Compared to Yuki you move like a turtle."
"Heh, so what does that make you? You still can't beat Yuki yourself now can you, loser? And you did all that extra training too." Haru said. "You're even worse than a turtle, you're a snail, an ameba."
"I'm seriously going to murder you!" Kyo shouted. Tohru made a worried noise.
"He's not serious." Yuki reassured her.
"But, look at him." She said. "I've never seen Kyo fight like this."
"Well, yes… against Haru, Kyo does seem a lot stronger. If you ask me they're both a couple of fighting fools. They've been studying Martial Arts since they were-" Yuki started coughing. "Since they were-
Suddenly Yuki fell down.
"Yuki? Yuki!" I crouched down next to him. Kyo and Haru stopped fighting and ran over. Haru got down in front of him.
"Is it an asthma attack?" Yuki struggled to breath. "And you have a fever too don't you. You know you're not supposed to overdo it when you're sick." Haru said grabbing his coat and putting it over Yuki. "Just lie here for now." Haru stood up and turned to Kyo. "Go call the main house and hurry." Yuki grabbed his ankle. Haru looked down at him.
"Yuki." Tohru got down next to him.
"You don't want the main house huh? Haru said. "Kyo, you don't mind if we finish our fight later, do you?"
"Uh-uh.."
"We need to get him back to Shigure's somehow." Haru said.
"Damn. I guess this means the endurance run is over too. That really bites. I was winning."
"I'd say we could take a taxi but I don't know, it would be a real pain if transforms in the back seat." Haru said. Tohru stood up.
"But we have to do something. I'll do anything!"
"Okay." Haru said smirking. "Maybe there is something we can do." He said. "It's lucky for me you're so cute."
"Huh?"
"I mean if I'm gunna do it, it should be with someone cute right?" He looked to me. "I'd do it with you babe but it doesn't seem to work with you." I blushed when he said 'babe'. He turned back to Tohru who simple looked confused. "Heheheheheh." Suddenly he put his arms around her and pulled her against him. She started freaking out her face bright red. She fell on the ground as a smoke cloud popped up. As it cleared we could see Haru was replaced with a cow, or Ox. "Hold onto the back of my neck so I don't change back." He said. "It'll be easier for Yuki if we carried him like this."
"Did it not occur to you how weird it will look, Yuki riding on the back of a cow?" I asked. He turned to look at me then looked away.
"So you came all the way here looking like that did you?" Shigure asked, trying not to laugh.
"It's not funny." Kyo said and Haru bite into Shigure's sleeve. We moved Yuki upstairs to his room and put him in the bed.
"There. We'll let him sleep for a while. Looks like it was just a mild attack. He still has a slight fever but he'll be alright."
"Thank goodness." Tohru said.
"Sorry for the scared but it's really okay. You can go back to school now if you want."
"Oh no I mean school is important but I just wouldn't feel right going back when I know that he's lying here sick. I'm sure mom will understand if I miss a day. And besides I feel a little bit responsible." Haru looked over, still in his Ox form. "I should've asked him to stay home today. His cold might not have gotten this bad." Shigure got up.
"I'll tell you what, how bout I go to the school and pick up your and Rika's things for you?"
"You really don't have to go to all that trouble." Tohru said.
"No, no, no trouble at all. In the meantime, Kyo why don't you call Hatori?" Kyo turned around.
"Huh? Why do I gotta do it?"
"Watch yourself though Hatori's a bit over worked these days so he's probably not in the bests of moods. From what I hear practically the entire family has come down with the flu. Suddenly Haru changed back.
"I'll call him." He said standing up. Tohru turned around while I looked away. "Where's the phone again?"
"Dam it put some clothes on first!" Kyo shouted. Haru turned around.
"Where are my clothes?" I cleared my throat.
"I-I brought them." I said holding them out.
"Thank you." He said before getting dressed. "Oh Shigure.."
"Hm?"
"We technically hugged and I didn't transform." He said. Shigure looked a bit surprised.
"You and Rika?" Haru nodded, putting on his shirt. "Rika, come here." Shigure said with a smile. Haru suddenly pulled me against him. I blushed looking up at him.
"See?" He said.
"Well maybe it's just you." Shigure said.
"Why would it be just him?" Kyo asked before coming over. He pulled me out of Haru's arms and against his chest with one arm. "See?" Kyo said, his face going pink before he removed his arm. Shigure frowned.
"I wanted a hug." He whined. I walked over and hugged Shigure. Immediately his arms went around my waist and he held me to him. He sighed happily. I jumped feeling a hand go down my back.
"Ah, S-Shigu-" Suddenly Kyo hit Shigure over the head and Shigure let go.
"Quit it you pervert!" Kyo shouted. I felt my face get even redder when Haru came over and pulled me against his chest again.
"W-What are you-?"
"This is nice.." He said quietly. Kyo made a noise.
"Would you cut it out!" He said. "I'll show you where the damn phone is." He said grabbing Haru's arm and starting to walk out of the room. Haru in turn grabbed my hand and the three of us went downstairs. We got to the phone and Kyo turned around. "Why did you follow us?" I raised my hand that Haru was still holding. Kyo sighed. "There's the phone call Hatori." He said before sitting down against the wall. Haru let go of my hand and went to the phone. I sat down next to Kyo.
"I can hug you now." I said with a grin. He glanced at me.
"So? So what?" I smirked and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Eh?! Wha-What are you-?" His face started to go red. I giggled and he blushed more.
"I'm just teasing you." I said before ruffling his hair. I leaned into his ear. "I know you like Tohru." I whispered. His whole face, neck and ears went red.
"What?! No I don't!" Haru looked down at the two of us.
"Sorry." I said with a sheepish smile.
"Mhm, I understand r-right." Haru said before hanging up the phone.
"So what's Hatori got to say?" Kyo asked.
"He sounded mad at me for some reason. Strange huh?"
"That's what happens when you disappear for three days." Kyo and I stood up. "So what now? I guess we've got that damn rat taken care of. You ready to finish our fight."
"Nah, forget it." Haru said.
"EH?!"
"You really have gotten stronger, Kyo, I think I need more training." Haru said turning to walk away.
"Hold it right there!" Kyo said and had Haru in a head lock as Tohru walked in. "You think you can pick a fight and just walk away whenever you feel like it huh? Just cause you changed back to white Haru doesn't mean you can-"
"So," Tohru said making them stop. "You're not Black Haru anymore?"
"Uhh.. no." Haru said.
"I'm sorry." Tohru said. "It's just you seem like a completely different person."
"How's Yuki?" He asked.
"He's still sleeping."
"Don't attack him while he's passed out Kyo."
"Shut up! What good does it do me if I beat him with a cheap trick like that? The day I knock that damn rat on his tail it's gunna be fair and square." Kyo started to leave the room. "Hell with it I'm going back to school.
"Yuki and Kyo.. do they still get in fist fights every day?" Haru asked while Tohru put some ice in a bag.
"No but they argue just about every time they see each other."
"Huh well that means they're getting along a little better at least. It wasn't long ago that the idea would've seemed pretty hopeless." He said.
"No, hopeless?"
"That's how it seemed. But I can tell they've both changed since then. There used to be so much tension between them that they were in the same room you could feel it in the air. Things seem much more relaxed now. It could be because you're here. "
"No I doubt I've made that much of a difference."
"Well I can't prove that yet but I haven't been around enough to see what's going on. I guess the reason isn't really important. Just glad to see they're doing better.
"Especially Yuki. He was my first love after all." Tohru dropped the ice pack.
"I can see that." I said. He glanced at me.
"Nothing against Kyo, Yuki is just very special to me. Although when we were kids I couldn't stand him. I hated his guts."
"Oh? Really?" Tohru asked. "Why?"
"Because he's the rat. It's in the old story right? How the rat rode on that cow's back to the Zodiac Banquet. I used to hate that story when I was a little kid. The cow.. The cow was a stupid fool letting a rat use him like that. That's what all the adults used to tell me anyway. I know they were probably half joking when they said it.. still.. I couldn't help but feel I was the one they were laughing at, calling stupid. And after hearing it over and over I had so much anger towards the rat bottled up inside I couldn't contain it. I started losing my temper over the tiniest things. I guess that's when my Black personality first began to appear. It got to be too much for my parents to handle. So they had me take Martial Arts lessons hoping it would give me a way to vent. It really didn't help, like they thought it would." He opened the door to Yuki's room. "I enjoyed the training itself but even there it still felt like I was getting laughed at a lot. And then one day I happened to bump into Yuki. The truth is up until then I'd never even said a word to him. The only time we ever saw each other was at New Year's. But that day seeing him sitting there.. all of my anger began to swell up at once. I exploded. After that I began to lose my temper less and less Yuki had finally allowed me to vent the anger that had filled me up for so long. It felt as though my heart had suddenly been set free. I was completely surprised. In every possible way Yuki was different from the person I'd imagine him to be. It's true until that point it had never occurred to me that he could be anything other than the mean rat. And to think, if I hadn't of met him that day. The mean rat is probably all I'd see even now. Then I would really be a fool.
"That's a wonderful story." Tohru said. "I was surprised today too. Seeing Yuki next to you with that little smile on his face. That was a first for me. He never smiled like that when he lived at the main house. That's why I was thinking maybe it's your influence that's helped him to soften up a bit."
"Oh no that can't be, I'm sure it's something else. I mean I don't know what I could've done that would be so great."
"I'll prove it to you." Haru said. "When he wakes up…" He started whispering in her ear. I pouted. I wanted to know too. We waited a few minutes and soon Yuki opened his eyes.
"Uh.. Miss Honda." He said rubbing his eyes.
"Hi, welcome back." She said. Suddenly he sat up.
"That's right I was.." He turned to look at her. "I hope I wasn't any trouble."
"No, it's alright."
"But how-how did I get here?"
"Hatsuharu transformed and carried you on his back." Yuki looked to Haru.
"Well thank you. It must have been a sight."
"N-no, I didn't mind at all. You were asleep by the time we got home and I've been telling Tohru and Rika the story why I like you."
"What is that the only thing you could think of to talk about? I at least hope you didn't bore them with too many details."
"They seemed interested."
"Hmm."
"It's okay." Tohru said. "It was a very nice story. Prince Yuki." I blinked. Did she just.. I smirked to myself. That must have been what Haru was whispering about.
"Well don't pay attention to Haru he-" Suddenly he stopped and his face went pink before he transformed.
"There you see?" Tohru said. "It doesn't work at all when I say it." I sighed and walked out of the room.
"Huh, where did Rika go?" I heard Tohru ask.
"She was here a second ago." Haru said. I walked downstairs and put on my shoes before opening the door to go outside. I closed the door and had just walked a few feet when the door opened and someone came running out. "Rika." I stopped and turned my head to see Haru. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"For a walk." I said.
"Without a coat? You'll get sick."
"I never get sick."
"Well this might be the day you do." I sighed. "A-At least wear my coat."
"It's really okay Har-" He suddenly wrapped the coat around me.
"Why do you think we don't transform when we hug you?" He asked as we both began walking. I shrugged.
"I dunno. You know, if you're gunna be out here with me you should be the one wearing the coat." I said.
"Why don't we share? Since we can hug." He said. He lifted one side and put it over him before putting his arm around my waist. "Put your arm around me."
"U-uh.. okay." I said blushing but sliding my arm around him.
"Are you Tohru's sister?"
"Adoptive."
"What was your last name before?"
"I never took the name Honda... I… I don't remember my last name… All I know is my parent's died… I'm from America and … that's it." I said frowning.
"I could tell you weren't from around here. You're blond and plus…" He trailed off and I looked up to see him blushing slightly. "I'm… I'm sorry about before… when I was Black Haru…"
"I-it's okay."
"We… we should get back inside." I nodded and we made our way back to the house. When we got there Hatori was there and Shigure and Kyo were in sleeping bags and they were in their animal forms.
"What happened?" I asked. Hatori looked up and his eyes widened slightly seeing Haru and I still so close under his coat. "Oh um.." I removed my arm and slide out of the jacket.
"For some reason she doesn't trigger a transformation." Haru said putting his coat away. Hatori stared at me a moment before nodding slowly.
"Why do you think that is?" I asked.
"I haven't the slightest clue."
So what do you think?! =D Rika doesn't cause them to transform! I have a whole thing going here this is so much fun.
Hey if you like The Walking Dead I have a Daryl/OC story posted "Blood Soaked Arrows to the Heart" check it out ^_^